Author: carlwgriffingmailcom

Link to Eastern Door Article: Controversial paddlers visit Kahnawake

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/pinesi-paddle

As the winter snow blankets Kichi Sibi Trails and the year draws to a close, we reach out to you with warmth and understanding. This past year has brought its share of challenges, and we know that many in our community have faced difficult times – whether through health struggles, financial hardships, or the profound loss of loved ones. To those who have experienced such difficulties, we extend our deepest empathy and support.

Yet even in challenging times, our trails continue to offer solace and connection. They remind us that like the mighty Kichi Sibi (Ottawa River) that flows through our lands, life continues to move forward, bringing new possibilities with each passing day.

We are particularly excited to share our vision for 2025, especially the upcoming Pinesi Paddle from Deep River to Ottawa. This journey represents more than just a paddle down our historic river – it symbolizes our community’s resilience, our connection to the land, and our ability to move forward together, no matter what challenges we face.  Follow this link for further information and to potentially participate https://forms.gle/9t4JxL8HSFvHJSxw6.

For those feeling lonely during this season, remember that our community’s heart beats strongest when we reach out to one another. Whether you’re a regular on our trails or someone who’s yet to join us, know that you have a place here among friends.

As we gather with loved ones or find peaceful moments of solitude during this holiday season, let’s carry with us the spirit of hope and community that makes Kichi Sibi Trails so special. May the natural beauty that surrounds us bring comfort to those who are hurting and joy to those who seek it.

Looking ahead to 2025, we see not just a new year, but new opportunities to strengthen our bonds, support one another, and create lasting memories on our trails and waters.

Wishing you peace, health, and moments of joy this holiday season,

With deep gratitude and hope,

Members of Kichi Sibi Trails

Join up to 32 paddlers and take the paddle of a lifetime from Deep River to Ottawa between 23 June to 1 July! We hope to recruit even more Algonquin people and descendants of Chief Constant Pinesi in 2025, as well as other indigenous people, and settlers. The total cost will likely be about $500 per person. The Pinesi Paddle 2024 was a tremendous success! (Watch the documentary trailer to learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEI9MC4bRYE)

As we begin planning for Pinesi Paddle 2025, we invite you to express your interest in participating as a paddler or volunteer.

We will leave Grand Chief Pinesi’s later hunting grounds west starting at Deep River and end at the hunting grounds he had in Ottawa before settlement forced him to move north. Among many other stops, paddlers will view the majestic and sacred Oiseau Rock and see its pictographs. Some may wish to start the next evening at Pembroke the next evening on the 24th but miss seeing the Rock. The Pinesi Paddle will end near his vital portage route to the Rideau River in New Edinburgh/Rockcliffe. The Pinesi Paddle 2025 will span approximately 220 km. 

If you would like to join us as a paddler or support the event as a volunteer, please complete this form:

Please note that formal registration has not yet begun. The purpose of this form is to gather expressions of interest from potential paddlers and volunteers. Those who submit this form will receive updates and registration details via email later.

For questions or more information, contact the registrar at (873) 376-6688 or pinesipaddle@gmail.com.

Kichi Sibi Trails

More on Pinesi Paddle 2025

The brigade admiral is the renowned canoeist, Max Finkelstein. Organizing the event is Kichi Sibi Trails. Wendy Jocko is its president. She is a member of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation (AOPFN), and Pinesi is her great grandfather times six.

Besides paddling and campfires, the daily practice of the journey will include efforts towards reconciliation in meetings between the paddlers, and settlers and Algonquins now living along the Ottawa River. 

Click here to see the Documentary Trailer of the 2024 Pinesi Paddle. For interest or questions regarding 2025 Pinesi Paddle email: PinesiPaddle@gmail.com

President Wendy Jocko:

Respected board members, honored guests, and dedicated
supporters of Kichi Sibi Trails,
Welcome to our first Annual General Meeting. As we gather
here today, we stand at the confluence of ancient wisdom and
modern purpose, much like the rivers that have shaped our lands
and our stories for millennia.
This past June, we embarked on an epic journey that was more
than just a canoe trip from Oka to Ottawa. It was a pilgrimage
along the veins of our ancestors, a reconnection with the
waterways that have sustained Indigenous peoples since time
immemorial.
As we paddled, each stroke brought us closer to our mission of
revitalizing the Ancient Indigenous Trails that crisscross Ontario
and Western Quebec.
The warm welcomes we received from local officials and
communities along our route were not just gestures of
hospitality; they were affirmations of the shared vision we all
hold for these lands.
Every greeting, every shared meal, every story exchanged was a
testament to the enduring spirit of community that these trails
have always fostered.
As we reflect on this journey, we are reminded that our work is
not just about preserving paths through the wilderness.

2

Kitchi Sibi Trails-AGM Thursday 14 November 2024 at 8 p.m.
It’s about rekindling the connections between communities,
between generations, and between humans and the natural
world.
The trails we seek to revitalize are more than routes of travel;
they are lifelines of culture, conduits of trade, and bridges
between nations.
Today, as we convene our first AGM, we carry with us the
momentum of that journey, the blessings of the communities we
encountered, and the responsibility entrusted to us by our
ancestors.
We are not just trailblazers; we are trail-revivers, breathing new
life into ancient ways.
To our board members, your guidance and dedication have been
instrumental in bringing us to this milestone.
To our guests, your presence here is a recognition of the
importance of this work.
Together, we embark on a new phase of our journey – one that
will see these ancient trails not as relics of the past, but as vital
arteries for the future of our communities.
As we proceed with our meeting, let us keep in our hearts the
rhythmic splash of paddles, the whisper of wind through the
trees, and the timeless call of the rivers.
For in those sounds, we hear the voices of our ancestors, urging
us forward on this noble path.
Miigwech. Thank you all for being here. Let us begin.

A Message from Kichi Sibi Trails

On this solemn Remembrance Day, November 11th, 2024, Kichi Sibi Trails stands united in honouring the brave men and women who have served our nation. We pause to reflect on the profound sacrifices made by our veterans and those who continue to serve.

War is undeniably the most destructive and pitiless of all human activities. Its impact reverberates through generations, leaving an indelible mark on those who experience its horrors firsthand. Our soldiers, who have witnessed the harsh realities of conflict, carry these experiences with them for a lifetime.

Today, we remember not just the fallen, but all who have worn the uniform. We honour the courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment of our veterans. Their service has shaped the world we live in, and their sacrifices have secured the freedoms we often take for granted.

As we observe a moment of silence, let us contemplate the true cost of war and the enduring strength of those who have faced it. Let us also renew our commitment to peace and understanding, striving to create a world where such sacrifices are no longer necessary.

To all veterans, both past and present: We see you. We honour you. We remember you. Your service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Lest we forget.

On this day, November 8th, and every day, Kichi Sibi Trails stands in solemn recognition of the Indigenous Veterans who have served with honour and distinction. Their sacrifices, often overlooked, have been integral to the freedoms we enjoy today.

Indigenous peoples have a long and proud history of military service, dating back to the War of 1812 and continuing through both World Wars, the Korean War, and peacekeeping missions around the globe. Despite facing discrimination and systemic barriers, these brave men and women stepped forward to defend our shared lands and values.

We remember heroes like Francis Pegahmagabow, Tommy Prince, and Edith Anderson Monture, whose courage and skill in the face of adversity continue to inspire us. Their stories are woven into the fabric of our nation’s history, reminding us of the strength found in diversity and the power of unity in the face of adversity.

As we paddle the waters of the Kichi Sibi, we are reminded of the deep connection between Indigenous peoples and this land. The river, like the service of Indigenous veterans, has been a constant presence, shaping our shared history and guiding us towards a future of reconciliation and mutual respect.

Today, we call upon all Canadians to join us in honouring these veterans. Let us commit to learning their stories, understanding their sacrifices, and working towards a future where the contributions of Indigenous peoples are fully recognized and celebrated.

To all Indigenous veterans, past and present: Chi-miigwetch. Thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your enduring spirit. Your legacy flows strong and true, like the mighty Kichi Sibi itself.

On behalf of Kichi Sibi Trails